John Hadl

#21 · Los Angeles Chargers

Retired 17 Years In The NFL

🏆 AFL champion (1963)

John's

HAIR

17.8

HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about John Hadl or the Chargers?

John Hadl Legacy

HEYTC AI

John Hadl was the ultimate Kansas gridiron gunslinger, a Lawrence kid who did it all at KU—halfback, defensive back, record-setting punter with a 94-yard boot, and two-time All-American before morphing into the AFL's deep-ball wizard. Signature? Leading the league in passing yards twice and TDs once with the Chargers, capping it with their 1963 title, then rebooting as NFC Player of the Year in '73 with the Rams at age 33. Tough as nails, he survived a near-fatal '71 riding accident and earned six Pro Bowls across four teams, embodying the era's grit. HeyTC slots him #39 all-time. Hadl passed in 2022 at 82, leaving a Hall of Fame legacy.

John Hadl passed away on November 30, 2022 at the age of 82.

John Hadl Rating Breakdown

Season

Average

Fantasy

Average

Playoffs

Non-Factor

Overall

NPC

11 years with the Chargers

John Hadl Career Stats via Wikipedia

33,503 Pass Yards

16 Touchdowns

268 INTs

50.4% Comp %

17.8 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About John Hadl

How does Justin Herbert compare to John Hadl?

John Hadl's the grizzled vet who quarterbacked the Chargers through the AFL's wild days, piling up 33,503 yards and that '63 title, while Justin Herbert's the cannon-armed phenom still scripting his saga with laser throws and poise under pressure. Hadl's era demanded grit over gaudy stats; Herbert's got the runway to eclipse him in bolts blue forever.

Is John Hadl in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, John Hadl never made it to Canton, despite 82 wins—sixth among QBs at retirement—and outpacing Hall of Famers like Namath and Jurgensen in victories. Six Pro Bowls, AFL crowns, Chargers legend status, but the gold jacket? Eluded him, leaving fans grumbling about snubs for those deep-ball gunslingers.

How would John Hadl perform in today's NFL?

Hadl's rocket arm and deep-ball accuracy would've feasted under today's pass-happy rules—no more 10-yard chuck-and-duck defenses. Picture him airing it out like '68's 3,473-yard explosion, minus the picks from groping secondaries. Tough as nails post-horseback wreck, he'd thrive as a 2026 starter, not just a relic.

How does John Hadl compare to Dan Fouts?

Hadl and Fouts both owned the Chargers huddle, but Fouts' Air Coryell wizardry jacked his rating to 86.6 while Hadl grinded at 75.4 over 11 San Diego years. Hadl brought legs and that '73 Rams resurgence; Fouts, pure volume magic. Both bolts icons, but Fouts edges the stat sheet in the end.